WRITTEN QUESTION E-0993/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council. Procedures for implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
Date: 2000-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North Macedonia, agreement (EU), association agreement (EU), peacekeeping

C 26 E/140

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

the moment it is available on paper from the Commission Delegation in YaoundØ, from the relevant
Commission department in Brussels and from the EDF National Authorising Officer in YaoundØ. The
improvements proposed by GOPA Consultants were taken into account
the
programme, insofar as they were considered relevant and suited to the specific context and financing of
the new phase of the project.

in the new draft of

Cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is governed by Articles 252 to 257 (micro-
projects) and Articles 251a to 251e (decentralised cooperation) of the LomØ Convention, which lays down
the objective and arrangements for its implementation. The Commission has also published a note on
support for decentralised cooperation, which applies to all decentralised cooperation programmes.

(2001/C 26 E/174)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0993/00

by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Council

(30 March 2000)

Subject: Procedures for implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)

The recent adoption by the European Parliament of the Swoboda Report (1) on the negotiation of a
Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia establishes a
suitable framework guaranteeing the security and development of the country so as to allow FYROM
gradually to come into the European fold.

Will the Council say what steps it intends to take next to implement in the near future all the measures
announced and promised in the Swoboda report for FYROM?

(1) Verbatim Report of Proceedings of 17 February 2000, p. 81.

Reply

(26 June 2000)

The Stabilisation and Association process is the centrepiece of the European Union(cid:146)s policy in the Balkans.
The overall objective of the Union is the fullest possible integration of the countries in the Region into the
political and economic mainstream of Europe.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA)
is a new type of bilateral Agreement which the
European Union offers to the countries of the Region, in return for compliance with certain political and
economic conditions.

A negotiating directive for an SAA with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was adopted by the
Council on 24 January 2000. This was the first negotiating directive for an Agreement of this kind in
Region and represents a significant step forward in the development of EU(cid:146)s Stabilisation and Association
process.

Negotiations under the responsibility of the European Commission have opened in March, and the two
sides have expressed their wish to aim at finishing negotiations by the end of the year. The Council is
confident that the European Commission is fully aware of the recommendations in the Report by
Mr Swoboda. Upon completion of negotiations, the signature and conclusion of the Agreement will take
place according to the procedures foreseen by the relevant provisions of the Treaties.